Prostaff Mattias Stambert

I grew up fishing—from the shore, from a boat, and from a pedal boat—ever since I was a child! But over the past 15 years, my interest in sport fishing has grown more and more. At first, it was mostly pike and perch—mainly pike. In recent years, however, my interest in perch has almost completely taken over.

I started kayaking in the fall of 2018.

Like many others, I started with an inexpensive entry-level model without a pedal system, mostly just to see if kayak fishing might be something for me. I didn’t have a boat or a boat slip, and I lived in an apartment, so a kayak felt like the most convenient option. I quickly discovered the beauty of kayaking—the ease of getting out on the water, exploring new bodies of water, and simply gliding along quietly in peace and quiet—it was just right for me.

Since I started, I’ve had the chance to try out several kayaks and have now settled on a Native Titan 12, which I’ve had for just over 4 years as I write this. I chose this model because of its size and stability, with the idea of being able to take my son on fishing trips by mounting an extra seat in the back where he could sit. That’s exactly how stable and spacious it is.

I’ve made a few custom modifications, such as removing the seat mount to create more space underneath the seat, installing two small blue LED lights to provide some illumination for evening and night fishing, and adding a USB port so I can charge my phone.

When it comes to mounting equipment, I’ve experimented a bit with different manufacturers and settled on two favorites: YakAttack and Ram Mounts. Personally, I think these two offer the highest quality and have exactly what you could possibly need.

I’ve mounted the fish finder screen—a 9-inch Garmin UHD—on the footrest system using a D-ball from Ram and a long arm. I’ve also mounted a phone holder there so I can easily take pictures. I find it convenient to have the screen right in front of me so I don’t get stiff from looking down at an angle so often.

Behind the seat, I have a YakAttack BlackPack Pro 16x16 with a total of 8 rod holders mounted on it—a really great box with plenty of customization options. I also have a TrackPack mounted on the railing for small lures and terminal tackle. A Cup Holder Pro with accessories for the lures I’m currently using. A MultiMount cup holder for a soda or water bottle, if needed. On the side of the kayak, I have a trolley system so I can easily turn the kayak in the right direction when anchoring.

For me, fishing is very much associated with relaxation and rejuvenation. In the kayak, all the world’s problems disappear, and I can let go of everything and just breathe deeply.

I often fish alone but also with other kayak anglers; there are quite a few of us in Sweden now, and you always learn something new when you’re out with other like-minded people. I also do quite a bit of competitive fishing every year, and I always do it from a kayak.

Quick Facts

Place of residence: Tyresö/Stockholm

Favorite species: Perch

Favorite lure: Micro lures or chatterbaits

Personal best from a kayak: Pike, 99 cm

Perch 46 cm, 1,180 grams

Arctic char 45 cm, 840 grams

Ide: 54 cm, 3,113 grams

Instagram @stambaits